Hydrangea Tardiva

Hydrangea is a flower that is a real decoration of any personal plot. It can attract the attention of gardeners not only by its excellent appearance, but also by the fact that the bush is incredibly decorative and, at the same time, the flower is not particularly whimsical. Panicle hydrangea Tardiva tardiva is a type of so-called panicle hydrangea, which differs in that it has a completely non-standard shape of inflorescences, as well as an excellent honey spicy aroma.

In this article, we will just dwell in more detail on the characteristics of this variety of hydrangeas. We will also talk about the peculiarities of planting and caring for this floral variety. Its main feature is its excellent appearance and relative unpretentiousness. So this flower will attract the attention of both novice gardeners and those who already have experience in growing a variety of flowers, but they are in constant and active search for completely new varieties of hydrangeas.

Hydrangea Tardiva: description of the variety and its main characteristics

Hydrangea Tardiva: Photo of the variety

The homeland of the Tardiva hydrangea is Japan. Perhaps it is for this reason that this flower has such a decorative shape and external qualities that distinguish it from the background of all the others. Initially, the hydrangea Tardiva (tardiva) was also grown in China and Sakhalin, but later the flower was cultivated in other countries and regions, spread and gained universal fame.

Perhaps, it is precisely due to the fact that the flower was widespread in regions with an unstable climate that it is distinguished by such frost resistance and stability in cultivation and care. Due to this, of course, it outperforms many other varieties, to which special attention should be paid.

The panicle hydrangea of ​​the Tardiva variety has features and properties, thanks to which it can be cultivated in almost every climatic and temperature region of our country. In particular, the flower gets along well in those areas where there are initially no favorable and stable weather conditions. And not every plant or flower will be able to develop normally in such an environment and give an attractive result.

Of course, the plant has some virtues, among which we can distinguish several specific features:

• the flower has a high level of stress resistance and immunity to a variety of common diseases that can affect both the root and stem systems. Due to such diseases, there is a high risk that plants will simply die in these conditions. With the hydrangea of ​​the Tardiva variety, there is a low chance that the death of the flower will occur due to disease or certain damage. So you should pay special attention to this when choosing one or another flower variety.
• the variety is winter hardiness. In a harsh climate, the flower will still give excellent and high-quality, beautiful inflorescences, which, moreover, will exude an incredibly pleasant aroma.
• the vegetative part, in the event of cutting off flowers or damage, can recover on its own. Moreover, unlike many other varieties, Tardive does not take much time to recover, so you should pay special attention to this.
• the variety can be cultivated in the same place for many times. The flower does not deplete the soil at all, although below we will talk about some of the subtleties of care.You need to know these points in order to understand how to extend the vitality of not only the flower itself, but also the soil in which it is located.
• flowering is very long. In this variety, it can last until the onset of the most severe frosts. Up to this point, gardeners enjoy the great flowers that decorate the backyard and give an incredible head start to many other flowers.

Plant characteristic

Hydrangea Tardiva: Photo of the variety

The height of a hydrangea bush can vary from 2.5 meters to three meters. The length of the inflorescence can also range from forty centimeters to half a meter. Much depends, of course, on climatic and weather conditions, as well as on what kind of care the gardener provides to the flower.

Basically, the inflorescences are painted in a snow-white shade, but over time, the flowers turn from white to a reddish tint. Already in one season, the bushes can grow to a fairly impressive size. Therefore, some gardeners resort to deliberate shaping of the bush to make it look even more attractive and well-groomed. And, accordingly, so that it acquires an even greater decorative appearance against the background of all other plants.

When a gardener plants a hydrangea, he should pay attention to some care subtleties and characteristics. For example, one of these points is that the root system of a hydrangea can grow very much in breadth. In addition, it may be located too close to the surface of the earth. And therefore, care should be taken very carefully. And when planting not single, but immediately group plantings, it is also necessary to observe the distance between the bushes. It should be at least two meters, but not more than three meters.

It is also worth paying attention to the fact that in general, an incredibly pleasant honey aroma emanates from the bushes, which can attract insects. This bush is considered an excellent honey plant, so you should take very careful and careful care of it. In addition, sometimes hydrangeas are planted near self-fertile varieties of fruit and berry trees. And at this time, it perfectly attracts pollinating insects, which is an excellent and beneficial effect for these plants.

The main thing is to follow all the rules of crop rotation, the neighborhood between crops, and then it will be possible to achieve excellent results in planting and caring for plants.

Hydrangea paniculata Tardiva - planting and care

Hydrangea Tardiva: Photo of the variety

Of course, before planting a plant in open ground, you need to take care of choosing a place for planting. Ideally, this should be a well-lit area, which will be minimally exposed to direct sunlight. Since they can sometimes harm the plant, but in no way give it any benefit in growth and development.

Experienced gardeners also advise planting hydrangeas alongside houses or hedges. Since there the flower will be protected not only from direct aggressive sunlight, but also from strong winds and drafts, which can also cause very severe damage to plants.

The pit for planting the Tardiva hydrangea is prepared in advance. Sizes can be quite standard. Experienced gardeners recommend such a dimensional network as 50x50x60 centimeters. A layer of peat is poured out to the very bottom of the pit. Its thickness should not be more than ten centimeters.

Soil acidity can be either low or medium levels. In this case, of course, it should be borne in mind that too acidic soil is not the most suitable environment for planting hydrangeas, since the flower will not feel safe in it, but on the contrary it will hurt too much and will not give active growth indicators.

If the soil is acidic, you can bring it up yourself to the required balance. To do this, experienced gardeners add a little lemon juice to the water for irrigation.But, again, this measure is the most extreme, and not in all cases it can be universal. So other soil indicators are also taken into account - the amount of clay, sand, and other elements.

Hydrangea Tardiva after transplanting into open ground

To increase the acidity, you can add some brown peat to the soil. If the soil is too acidic, then this figure can be reduced. To do this, during digging, wood ash or lime is added to the soil. Both components have an excellent effect on the general condition of the soil, on its quality indicators. So it is worth paying special attention to this and not neglecting caring measures when preparing the soil for planting hydrangeas.

A seedling of the Tardiva panicle hydrangea in a pre-prepared hole is set in such a way that the root collar rises above the soil by about 5-6 centimeters, no more. Gradually, the gardener fills the hole with soil, and then water it and tamp it a little. Compaction of the soil is required in order to prevent air pockets from forming directly next to the roots. Otherwise, pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms can form in that environment, which negatively affect the general condition of the plant.

In addition, a dry environment is formed in such voids, which will lead to the fact that the earth, in principle, will dry out very quickly. And that certainly won't be a good sign for a hydrangea. It takes two to three weeks for a Tardiva hydrangea seedling to fully take root and adapt to new conditions. And you can determine the level of success of engraftment just by how new leaves develop right on the branches of the hydrangea.

Also, the time of hydrangea planting is quite important. For example, if a bush is planted in the northern regions, then it is best to do this at the very beginning of spring. If the gardener chose southern and warm areas for planting, then in general the bush will survive the planting perfectly in the autumn, will have time to adapt and take root in the new conditions before the first frosts come.

In this case, in this case, in any case, the soil must be prepared and warmed up enough, since in cold and frozen soils, the hydrangea runs the risk of not taking root at all, which means that the gardener will not get the desired result.

It is also worth remembering about watering: when the gardener does this for the very first time, he should not allow a strong erosion of the soil in the near-stem circle, otherwise this will lead to the exposure of the root collar and, as a result, it will begin to rot, and the plant will soon wither and will die altogether.

Even despite the fact that hydrangea responds well to sunny weather, it is practically unable to withstand exposure to direct sunlight. Therefore, gardeners recommend choosing partial shade as the optimal place for planting and growing a plant, as well as the place where there are practically no drafts.

In order that in a group planting the bushes do not touch each other and do not interfere with each other, the distance between them should be about 2.5 meters, not less. And sometimes even more, to secure plantings and make them versatile and more attractive. Also, the gardener should remember that with an abundant group planting of hydrangeas, it is worth thinning, cutting, shaping the bushes so that they look even more attractive.

Care activities

Hydrangea Tardiva: Photo of the variety

Hydrangea Tardiva is a variety that can tolerate severe droughts quite calmly. But at the same time, so that the soil does not completely dry out, and so that the plant itself does not die, it is necessary to abundantly to water hydrangea once a week.

Watering goes well with the introduction of mineral additives, since in this way it is much easier to convey to the plant and to its root system all the nutrients that have the best effect on the growth and development of hydrangea even in not the most favorable conditions.

If the gardener chose the wrong watering schedule, then this can lead to the fact that soon the plant will simply die. Therefore, you should remember about the regularity and the amount of watering. So, for one square meter of plantings, at least thirty liters of settled water is required, which will become an excellent feed for hydrangeas and will play a significant role in their further growth and development.

If the weather conditions develop in such a way that there is also natural, rainfall, then, in general, watering can be reduced. Again, the grower needs to be weather-conscious and flexible, and the amount of moisture applied. In general, of course, a lot lies on the shoulders of the gardener himself, if we talk about caring for plants. So you need to remember about your own responsibility in order to get a worthy and positive result.

Proper hydrangea care also includes timely introduction all the necessary fertilizers and other components. At the very beginning of the spring period, it is necessary to use fertilizers in which an increased content of the nitrogenous component is noted. In addition, it is worth taking a sufficient amount of humus, since thanks to it, the bush will give abundant flowering, and the inflorescences will acquire an incredibly lively and fresh appearance.

When the Tardiva hydrangea enters the flowering phase, it is worth applying some mineral fertilizers, which also contain sufficient amounts of potassium and phosphorus. As for the frequency of introducing these components, it is usually once every two weeks, not more often.

Panicle hydrangea Tardiva: Photo of the variety

When summer comes to an end, it is recommended to completely complete any feeding of the bushes, since the Tardiva hydrangea needs to reorient its immune system on its own. And only in this case will it receive a sufficient amount of support from itself. In addition, thanks to these manipulations and actions on the part of the gardener, the Tardiva hydrangea will be able to get enough time before the gardener trims it and reshapes it for the onset of winter.

Pruning should be carried out after flowering has already ended. All inflorescences that have dried or wilted, have been damaged are removed. And also dry branches should also be removed from the site and from the bush, respectively.

Thus, the gardener forms the necessary crown shape, which will look quite attractive and will not be too much out of the general composition with the onset of spring. At the same time, it will give an abundant and very attractive flowering.

In addition, if a large number of thin shoots have formed on the bush, then it is recommended to shorten them, and leave about four buds, no more. In general, from such trifles that are included in the care measures, the successful growth and development of plants and flowers is formed in the future. So in no case should you neglect these activities. This may then not have the most positive effect on the general condition of the personal plot and, of course, on the expectations of the gardeners themselves from certain crops.

Sometimes there are situations when the gardener transfers pruning to the beginning of the spring period. But this should be done exactly before the kidneys begin to revive and swell. At this time, either sanitary or thinning pruning should usually be prescribed. You should not carry out too serious manipulations with the bush during this period. Otherwise, there is a high probability that, due to active sap flow, the plant may receive severe damage and, as a result, not the best effect will happen, and the plant will simply die as a result.

For the pruning to be successful, it is necessary to remove all branches that after the winter period turned out to be completely unviable. And also remove any shoots that grow inside the crown of the bush and, accordingly, thicken it too much, making the bush more bulky, completely unattractive and non-decorative.

If the plant is not young, but aged, then it will give a rare and very poor flowering. In order to update the bush and, as it were, give it a "second life", it is recommended to cut it to the very root. And in this case, it can give another flowering next season. Of course, one should not expect that this will be a very abundant and long flowering, but this is another chance for the gardener to see how an already beloved bush is blooming.

There is also advice on pruning: more experienced gardeners recommend in the very first year, when the Tardiva hydrangea began to bloom, to prune absolutely all inflorescences. Thanks to this, in the next season the plant will have even more strength in order to give a very abundant and active flowering. So this advice can also be consulted if the grower has the opportunity to wait a while to get an even better result.

Near the bush, you should definitely remove all weedsas this is also considered part of the grooming activities. In addition, it is worth exercising loosening soil, especially after the bush has been moistened. But this should be done very carefully so as not to damage the root system, which can be located very close to the surface of the earth.

If you suddenly do not carry out loosening, or do not follow all the care rules, then this can lead to the fact that the gardener will harm the root system. As a result, the plant will weaken, it will demonstrate out of the ordinary weak and very poor flowering and, accordingly, the growth of green mass will slow down.

Because of this, in principle, the plant will lose all decorative features and characteristics. And sometimes the only way out that growers see is to dig a bush from the site and get rid of it, since it is hardly possible to rehabilitate the plant.

Even despite the fact that the Tardiva hydrangea is a rather winter-hardy plant, the bush still needs to be very carefully prepared for winter... In order for the root system not to freeze, it is necessary to lay a layer of humus, dry leaves and needles right around the trunk. This composition will serve not only as a mulch, but will also retain heat in the near-trunk circle, due to which the plant will feel quite comfortable in especially harsh winters.

If the winters in the region are very harsh and cruel, then the bush itself as a whole needs additional insulation and shelter. To do this, you can use thermal insulation or covering materials, agrofibre, which are purchased in special stores for gardeners.

Then the gardener mounts a frame around the bush, which consists of a mesh. It is filled with dry foliage, packed in plastic or plastic wrap. In such a frame, heat is retained, the bush feels as comfortable as possible, and as a result, it perfectly tolerates severe winter frosts and, in general, prolonged winter periods, which do not always have a good effect on the general condition of the plant.

Propagation of hydrangea

Hydrangea Tardiva: Photo of the variety

In order to propagate a plant, you can use several options. But the most common among them are such as:

• grafting... It is best to start preparing the breeding material for the Tardiva panicle hydrangea in the summer. For this, the gardener takes the youngest shoots that have not yet had time to woody. Shoots are placed in settled water for several days, then all leaves must be removed from the bottom. The cut should be treated with a growth stimulant, since thanks to this, the root system will form much faster.This means that the plant adapts much faster to completely new conditions. After the gardener has completed the preparatory manipulations, the cuttings are sent to a container that is filled with soil. It is also recommended to include sand and peat in the composition of the soil. The container is covered with foil, polyethylene, plastic or a transparent glass jar. Thanks to the shelter in the container, the so-called greenhouse effect is formed, which has an excellent effect on growth. In this form, it is best to send the cuttings away, to a cellar or basement, which will be cool, but protected from any drafts. During the spring and summer period, the seedlings should be looked after, periodically watered, ventilated, removing polyethylene, film or jar from the container. In a permanent place where the Tardiva hydrangea will continue to grow, it is recommended to plant it in August. Until that time, strong and young roots will have time to form, which will just become the guarantee that the plant will be able to successfully adapt to new conditions.
• dividing a bush - This is the second method of propagation of hydrangeas, which is especially popular. After the bush has completed its flowering, it is dug up, and the gardener neatly divides it into several parts. At the same time, it is worth paying attention to the fact that in each part that the gardener has separated, there must be a growth bud. Otherwise, this part of the bush will not be able to grow. Or it will grow, but much slower than those parts on which a large and healthy growth bud has formed. After separation, each part should be planted in a pre-prepared planting pit. In principle, it can be the same as we spoke about earlier - the size is 50x50x60 centimeters, filled with peat and mineral fertilizers. It is also necessary to periodically feed the plant, which consists of mineral fertilizers and organic matter. They can be alternated, then the bush will receive more protection and effect from such manipulations.
• layering - the third way of propagation of hydrangeas. Usually, layering is used only at the very beginning of spring. But at the same time, this method is used by experienced gardeners much less often. This is mainly due to the fact that layering may not always give the expected result. And this result does not always meet the expectations and needs of the gardener himself. In order to still try to propagate the hydrangea by layering, it is necessary to dig a hole near the bush right on the site, its depth should be no more than 20 centimeters. Then the gardener chooses a young shoot, which is located closest to the root system, places it in a pre-prepared hole, and then covers it all with earth. Further, the shoot should be watered, taking into account the general condition of the soil and the degree of moisture of the soil itself. After the very first young leaves are formed on the layer, it can already be safely separated from the parent bush. When 14 to 20 days have passed, the seedling is planted in the place in which it will constantly grow and give its flowering.

At the same time, nevertheless, many gardeners and florists who already have experience in growing and propagating Tardiva hydrangeas recommend choosing cuttings for propagation. Thanks to this, the Tardiva hydrangea takes root almost 100%, which, of course, gives more guarantees to the gardener himself.

In addition, in this state, the hydrangea also does not differ in particular whimsy and capriciousness. And this gives even more positive results.

Conclusion

In general, many gardeners who have grown this hydrangea variety say that it is a truly unique decoration that can become indispensable for any home garden. At the same time, the bush is completely unpretentious, if we talk about care measures.Therefore, it does not take much effort and time from the gardener to get a decent and attractive result.

Over the years, the Tardiva panicle hydrangea will give the gardener incredibly attractive inflorescences, and the scent will attract many honey insects. One way or another, subject to agricultural technology, you can extend the life of the bush, and sometimes give it a second youth, when even the oldest bushes begin to bloom profusely, which, of course, attracts gardeners.